Christopher Piehota Email & Phone Number

Florida, United States

Professional consulting services provided in the areas of complex federal law enforcement, national security, and associated administrative operations. Offering extensive experience and insight in sensitive subject areas associated with the managed physical and technical security of people, assets, and infrastructures. Sharing real-world observations regarding the oversight and development of national security cyber/technological tools, intelligence gathering programs, vulnerability exploitation/defensive approaches, and related investigative/operational philosophies. We support clients through the application of key leadership practices and organizational transformation/change management assessments. YF5 enhances client efforts to build and manage cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams for operational effectiveness and sustainable success in increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments. We Deliver Focus, Action, and Results.

Annapolis, Maryland, Us

Deep Water Point & Associates is composed of industry veterans and government experts, dedicating their expertise to maximize our clients’ competitive edge. Combining insight into the mission drivers that shape governmental decisions with an understanding of market trends and emerging opportunities, Deep Water Point & Associates gathers actionable intelligence for its clients – giving them a leg up on securing bids in vital sectors. Our team leverages experience from senior level agency experts as well as technology professionals to craft custom proposals designed around each individual client's strengths. Our clients win due to the combination of their high-value offerings and Deep Water Point & Associates’ deep knowledge of the agency, the program, the operational culture, and the key decision-makers.Serves as a Principal Consultant for the Deep Water Point and Associates (DWPA) firm and helps clients to accelerate their strategic growth by connecting them to the capture, development, and marketing resources required to succeed in today’s federal mission environment. As a Principal Consultant, I support high-criticality operations to include InfoTech, national security, infrastructure, human capital, resource planning, and mission systems programs across dozens of mission sectors. I provide consulting services for executives, leaders, and organizations in the areas of national security matters (counterterrorism and counterintelligence), risk management, technical operations, and organizational leadership in high consequence environments. I offer insight and experience into navigating and building government security relationships (domestic and international). Experienced in adapting and applying leadership approaches borne from a career of leading and conducting sensitive government operations while also building productive people, teams, and programs.

Reston, Virginia, Us

Serves as an Advisory Board member who supports the Dark Circuit Lab (DCL) organization by providing targeted strategic guidance in the formulation of company goals and growth strategies. Provides insights and perspectives for discussions on business development initiatives and product development plans. Serves as an at-large ambassador for the DCL organization and is a resource to DCL stakeholders such as investors, members of the media, industry peers, and government officials. Assists DCL leaders in aligning strategic vision with brand identity in order to field an effective suite of products and services for its customers and clients. When appropriate and applicable, will provide commentary to support DCL decision-making in areas such as product advancement, human resources, marketing, finance, accounting, operations, or management practices. Offers experience-based feedback on select company policies and procedures related to ethics, risk management, compliance, and regulatory requirements. Scans current and emergent markets for possible growth opportunities through market research, customer sector feedback, and strategic relationships.

Daytona Beach, Florida, Us

Member, Industry Advisory Board (IAB), Security Studies and International Affairs (SSIA) Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Daytona, Fla. This IAB role provides experiential insights, perspectives, advice, and guidance that shape academic course content and related programs. The IAB promotes instructional relevance that is required to meet the needs of homeland security and global conflict study leaders and professionals. The IAB provides strategic planning and program development for the SSIA Department at ERAU which houses two undergraduate degrees; one degree program focuses on Homeland Security while the other degree program addresses Global Conflict Studies.

Albuquerque, Nm, Us

Applied Research Associates (ARA) has been a premier provider of scientific and technological solutions for the United States Government since 1979. Since this time, ARA Mission Teams continue to support the national security, national defense, health science, infrastructure, and energy sectors, as well as other sensitive government operations, with innovative services and products that have made the world a safer, more secure place for everyone. As an ARA Principal Director for Technical Initiatives, I assist the ARA Team in forming and enabling strategies that protect people, assets, and infrastructures from harm. My responsibilities include:• Increasing ARA competitiveness in securing new customers for the company’s services and products while introducing the ARA brand to new business sectors.• Advancing ARA reach in mitigating persistent global threats, national security vulnerabilities, and community safety needs.• Promoting U.S. military, law enforcement, and intelligence modernization to combat aggressive actions by international competitors and adversaries.• Expanding opportunities in deploying ARA integrated solutions for areas such as unmanned/autonomous operations, protective/surveillance systems, CounterWMD testing modernization, cyber operations, tactical field operations, microelectronic component validation, artificial intelligence-enhanced simulations and analytical systems, explosives/non-kinetic weapons testing/development/modeling, risk management, and virtual/augmented reality aids.• Finding new opportunities where ARA solutions can be used in revitalizing, modernizing, and securing U.S. infrastructure while also creating new paradigms for resiliency and sustainability.• Intensifying ARA mission integration with customers to address emerging technological challenges, improve performance, gain advantage, increase security, and reduce national threat exposure.

Senior leader who led organizational development and establishment of U.S. operations, sales, hiring, policy development, and budgeting; Enhanced strategy development and updated business practices by deploying new layered security strategies, technological product integration, and organizational management concepts; Served as a security subject matter expert who directly advised the CEO on cyber technical operations, strategies, and investigative approaches; Spokesperson for cyber products who develops security branding/reputational visibility strategies• Technical Product Development: Provided strategic direction on cyber investigative tool development and facilitates technical capability assessment needs assessments for the CEO. Leveraged technical and operational experiences to form organizational goals and map customer needs to industry physical/digital best practices and related cyber protective trends• Cyber Business Operations: Senior leader and strategic planner for business development opportunities and organizational program development/growth in the areas of cyber investigative, intelligence, threat detection, and data collection operations • Business Development: Navigated business channels to build a new sales pipeline by characterizing market dynamics, analyzing evolving data protection needs, and promoting technology approaches for threat intelligence collection• Market Targeting: Conducted customer sector cyber security needs assessments for priority market penetration/expansion

Purcellville, Va, Us

Provided executive leadership, oversight, and security expertise for a host of comprehensive enterprise risk services and solutions for client organizations that operate in high-risk, highly regulated business environments. Key areas of focus: Business Development, Operations and Program Management, and Cyber Risk Quantification for the protection of people, brands, and profits from avoidable loss and harm. Developed sustainable approaches for risk identification and mitigation through the application of layered strategies, tools, and resources.Applied combined FBI security leadership, investigative insight, and operational experience to characterize risk-related circumstances, influences, and hazards that could impact client business security and effectiveness. Assisted clients in skillfully identifying, navigating and reducing operational threats inherent to their personal and professional environments. Employed a layered, inclusive approach to employing specialized security strategies, technological products, and focused leadership concepts to assist clients in preparing for, coping with, and recovering from current and emergent security and operational risks. Built a new Cyber Advisory Services program to provide a structured approach to assist clients in understanding the current threat environment while enabling scientific assessments of cyber fitness. Assisted clients in coping with identified and emergent threats to people, programs, and systems which remain vulnerable to espionage, human intelligence operations, human behavioral exploitation, technical attacks, and gaps in cyber event consequence management.

Washington, Dc, Us

Promoted by the FBI Director as an Executive Assistant Director to lead and integrate a geographically dispersed workforce of 5,500 investigators, scientists, technologists, IT professionals, and business managers to address emerging cyber threats, data protection needs, crime problems, and national security risks. • Executive Leadership/Business Acumen: Formulated/executed a $1.5B budget, formed FBI enterprise business plans; set hiring/staffing strategies to fill human talent needs; Developed strategic goals/objectives the drove organizational direction and priorities for data collection/protection, cyber collection platforms, data encryption matters, and critical surveillance operations • Technological Program Management: Deployed sensitive technology platforms to collect/protect investigative video/audio/cyber data; Managed national-level criminal justice Infotech storage, cataloging systems, and infrastructures; Oversaw the collection of annual crime statistics from 16,000+ criminal justice entities across the U.S.; Marshalled personnel/resources to respond to/manage national-level crises and mass shooting events • Innovation and Problem-solving: Updated aging national Infotech data systems (biometrics/screening systems), enhanced digital encryption access approaches, and monitored evolving insider threat detection complexities; Fostered a novel workplace culture that resulted in $40 million in cost savings for the update of legacy FBI data collection/storage systems• Performance Improvement: Modernized FBI biometric facial matching practices, and Infotech infrastructures; Used risk-based reviews to improve FBI facial matching accuracy by 10%• Subject Matter Expert: Provided speeches/presentations/briefings/keynote addresses on a variety of technological threat issues for White House staff, Congressional members and committees, INTERPOL, national news media interviews (CNN, Wall Street Journal), and numerous public/private security conferences

Washington, Dc, Us

Appointed by the Attorney General as the senior U.S. Government official who led a multi-agency staff of 500 and an asset base of $300 million for the nation’s interagency global screening center for national security and global organized crime.• International Security Operations: Awarded for expanding a vital U.S. global security program by 70% by negotiating and/or sustaining 56 world-wide counterterrorism agreements with diplomatic, intelligence, and law enforcement leaders• Security Collaboration: Led a world-wide 24 hr. counterterrorism center comprised of 13-15 divergent federal/state/local intelligence and law enforcement organizations in order to detect/defeat world-wide threats; Set common operating parameters, inclusive goals, and an integrated technical/business operating approach that became a model for U.S. national security operations centers • IT System Oversight: Supervised the operation, modernization, maintenance, and security of global Infotech systems that enabled global national security screening operations; Led oversight of DEVOPS teams and an IT staff of 120 members• Problem-solving: Elevated organizational performance through gap/needs analyses, culture shifts, process updates, Reduced staff attrition by 29% and reduced data base error rates by 25%; Resolved technical shortfalls for certain international partners by integrating TSC technology with less capable nations by created a new secure enterprise Internet portal to expedite international mass transit security screening and real-time tracking of known or suspected terrorists or trans-national organized crime actors which overcame diplomatic challenges and reduced counterterrorism data screening cycles from weeks to days• Policy Development/Compliance: Developed policies for the National Security Council that set data system operating/auditing parameters and analyses to fulfill complex legal/policy/compliance frameworks and court decisions.

Washington, Dc, Us

Executive Leadership: Promoted by the FBI Director to serve as the Chief for all FBI criminal investigative, national security, and intelligence operations/activities across Western New York State; Instituted an update strategic management approach based on program integration, alignment of goals, and periodic performance reviews. In this role, concurrently provided tactical and strategic leadership for all aspects of field office business operations (finance, personnel, logistics, facilties, security, etc.). Employed a transformational leadership style to re-establish field office alignment with FBI corporate objectives and performance expectations, improve resource utilization, restore program focus, and modernize program practices.• Business Acumen: Analyzed organizational priorities/requirements, formed working groups in primary operational programs, and integrated new organizational practices/goals that resolved a projected 44% budget shortfall • Crime Fighting/Community Liaison: Applauded for resolving competing community interests and rehabilitating strained political/law enforcement relationships; Enhanced SWAT tactical budgeting, resources, and assets to enable new response capabilities to counter emerging active-shooter risks and escalating anti-gang operations; Fostered diverse social/political/law enforcement partnerships that reduced Buffalo area gang-related crime by 20%.• Intelligence-driven Operations: Implemented new threat team-driven practices that fostered a 27% gain in actionable/usable crime intelligence and a 33% increase in regional reporting activity among NY investigative partners; These key actions resulted in the initiation of new public corruption and gang-related investigations and prosecutions• Public Affairs: Led FBI regional media and community liaison activities with political, social, and community leaders; Recognized FBI senior spokesperson for news commentary, press statements, speeches, and television/radio interviews

Washington, Dc, Us

Deputy Director, Operations Chief, U.S. Terrorist Screening Center: Managed daily tactical operations of the U.S. Terrorist Screening Center and conducted 24 hour international security watchlisting and screening operations. Led collaboration and deconfliction among with various U.S. Government and international organizations in order to effectively identify and respond to risks and threats to people, modes of travel, and modes of travel. Managed complex legal and policy issues surrounding civil liberties/privacy-related matters, litigation, congressional inquiries, and rapid mission expansion.Led the design and implementation of a new metrics and reporting system for the nation's Terrorist Screening Database which improved data quality, reduced statistical variances, and provided increased insight into data relationships for new, actionable preventative counterterrorism intelligence.

Washington, Dc, Us

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, Summary of Investigative and Operational positions *(1995-2009)• Washington Field Office, DC, Assist. Special Agent in Charge, Chief Security Officer and Executive Manager for Technical Services, Information Technology, and Undercover Operations; Provided oversight for FBI physical security (personnel. facility access, site security, guard forces) and information security requirements; Supervised personal protective programs for the U.S. Attorney General and FBI Director • Washington Field Office, DC, Counterintelligence Supervisory Special Agent - Covert Technical Operations and Human Intelligence Collection operations against hostile foreign intelligence services; Worked closely with U.S. Intelligence Community partners to detect, deter, and defeat foreign intelligence operations conducted in opposition to U.S. interests, both domestic and international• FBI Headquarters International Counterterrorism Program Manager and Intelligence Program Chief; post September 11, 2001 global counterterrorism program supervisor and investigative leader for world-wide counterterrorism operations; Established, led, and managed new FBI intelligence programs in order to more effectively share intelligence and information among law enforcement and intelligence partners • Newark, NJ Field Office, Special Agent Investigator, Counterterrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction matters; Conducted various investigations and operations to identify and interdict domestic and international terrorism-related activities and networks; Assisted partner organizations in developing required levels of planning, preparedness, and operational readiness to prevent or respond to nuclear, chemical, or biological incidents

Kennedy Space Center, Space Shuttle Base Operations ContractMetrologist/Scientist, Laboratory Supervisor – Managed NASA Metrology laboratory operations and contract personnel in the applied science of measurement and quantification. Performed technical testing of multi-million dollar temperature, microwave, fiber optic, and helium leak rate analysis equipment to support the Space Shuttle Program. Worked with National Institute of Standards and Technology artifacts to establish derived levels of measurement accuracy and uncertainty in these disciplines. Analyzed data and authored performance ratings/reports of record.

Randolph Afb, Tx, Us

United States Air Force, Laboratory Supervisor and Quality Assurance Monitor, October 1983 – October 1989Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Supervisor/Technician – Supervised metrology laboratory operations and personnel. Calibrated, troubleshot, repaired, and tested multi-million-dollar precision measurement equipment in direct support of Air Force flight/weapons systems, as well as navigation, precise time, and radioactive measurement equipment. Certified USAF radio-isotope technician, quality assurance monitor, and metrology technical trainer.USAF Tactical Air Command World-Wide Mobility Deployment Team member.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Ph.D., Human Performance Technology

Master Of Science (M.S.), Human Resources Training And Development

Bachelor'S Degree, Business Administration And Management

Certified Insider Threat Program Manager, Security

Navigating Strategic Change

Associate'S Degree, Electronic Systems Technology